Hello there, Pap!

I have a strong concern to share with you:

I have been part of the furry community for about 6 years now and so far I think I made the right decision (My coming-out has been well-received, even from my parents and friends).

However, since my arrival, I was preoccupied for what I've interpreted as a consumerist way of life from my furllows, as I did expect to find more people interested in activities like draw, paint, build, compose music, writing poetry, in one single word: CREATE. And many of them get to the point where their efforts are being rewarded and they became luminaries (or commonly say: popufurs)

Unfortunately, I see more and more of others furries that aren't interested at all at create anything to be famous or recognized for their contribution to this community but rather for what goodies they own, which important peoples they meet, etc.

It kinda depresses me to see that this Do-it-yourself feeling is no longer present in the modern day fandom, but maybe I'm wrong and it was the same back in the premises of it...

I've seen it with my own eyes with the French furries I've met, but from what I've heard there's also some cases of this phenomenon in the US community but I won't presume that's a real thing. I know that the French-fur community has a bad reputation in the fandom for being over-the-top materialistic and drama-trigger compared to its German neighbor but then again, prejudices can be really tough.

So, Pap, is that correct?

Hurlelune (age 20, France)

* * *

Dear Hurlelune,

Since I have not done a study on this, nor have I seen one, it would be quite difficult to say with any kind of authority that furries are creating less and obsessing more about owning things and being seen with popufurs. The phenomenon might be localized to your personal experience. What I see online and among my furbuds is the same amount of creativity I’ve always seen. I constantly see people posting about their art or stories or whatever other artistic endeavors they are involved in.

That said, not everyone can be creative and talented. I suppose that it could be frustrating for many furries who can’t draw or sew or write to be in this fandom, and since they can’t do these things themselves they, instead, buy them and become fans of artists and such.

But there actually are ways to have fun in the furry world without being a talented artist. Papabear isn’t an artist, but, for example, I have fun fursuiting (in a fursuit I did not make myself). Another area where furries can have creative fun is gaming, which is extremely popular. Many games allow you to create your own character and have adventures in the virtual world. Still another way to be an active fur is to become involved with organizing, running, or volunteering for a furry convention. Furcons and furmeets run on the gasoline of valuable and generous volunteers without whom these functions would not exist. Giving of your time at a furcon will be very much appreciated, believe me.

Despite such opportunities, you’re probably correct that many furries find value only in crass materialism. I do not believe this to be a furry phenomenon or a French phenomenon, but, rather, it is a symptom of life in modern, developed countries. I’m not familiar with French culture, but I can say for a fact that many (I daresay the vast majority of) Americans have lost their souls. They believe that the only thing that matters is money, power, owning stuff, often to the exclusion of family and friends. Greed has destroyed my country. Greed is why our prisons are full; it is why we bomb other countries; it is why we have career politicians; it is why our environment has been destroyed; it is why we are sick and dying. I guess it would be incredibly naïve to believe that this metastasizing cancer in humanity would not touch upon the furry community, even though the furry community is, I thought, supposed to be an escape from humanity.

What can you do? Well, my thought would be to not worry so much about what others are doing. Instead, become a shining example of what a furry should be and don’t be shy about it. Perhaps if other furries see how happy you are being a furry of the soul rather than of the bank account they will want to be more like you.

Blessed Be,
Papabear

Watch Out for the Wicked Wolf

In-Fur-Nation - Fri 8 Jul 2016 - 01:59

Here’s one we nearly missed, from Amigo Comics: A full-color one-shot comic called Sidney Hammer Versus The Wicked Wolf. “Sidney Hammer, the scantily-clad, sardonic, grind-house reporter is back! She only wanted a cold beer, but Sidney has found herself looking for a missing girl and being hunted by a big bad werewolf! And this time Sidney doesn’t know if the tabloid she’s working for will pay for the investigation of this spooky case! Spanish artist Massacre returns with the sassiest hack of all.” That all comes to us directly from Previews. Look for it on the shelves now.

image c. 2016 Amigo Comics

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Categories: News

Gay Animal Labels and Fursona Stereotypes | Fd After Dark

Culturally F'd - Thu 7 Jul 2016 - 17:01

Categories: Videos

Waterways is why I Love the Furry Fandom

Dogpatch Press - Thu 7 Jul 2016 - 10:50

I love the Furry Fandom. I love how weird, crazy, silly, creative, and open-minded the fandom is. Just like how every other fandom says they’re weird, crazy, silly, creative, and open-minded. But in all seriousness, I do appreciate what the fandom is and what it keeps trying to do. I am indebted to the Furry Fandom. My life would not be where it is today because of it. If I had any regrets in life, one of them would be to wish I knew about the fandom earlier so I could spend more years exploring it, but that’s wishful thinking, and in all honesty, would undermine my personal growth.

The first time I’ve ever heard about the fandom was during a countdown on Animal Planet’s “Weird, True & Freaky” around 2008. Before that, I knew I loved the concept of anthropomorphic animals. Mainly through the Redwall book series and TV show, which was my only “Furry” fix growing up. I don’t really remember if there were other factors like Disney’s Robin Hood or Bugs Bunny, Crash or Ratchet, Swat Kats or Road Rovers. But I do know when Weird, True & Freaky showed Furries I wanted to know more.

I don’t remember much about the segment. I know it was talked about during a countdown of humanimals, looks at how far humans include animals into their lives. The fandom only made number 4 or 3 out of 7, and while it did bring up the topic of sex, it wasn’t the main reason it made the list. Just the whole, “Can you believe people dress up in fursuits? Look at how quirky and weird these Furries be…” blah, blah, blah. In hindsight, considering what most media depictions of Furries were like at the time, this one was fairly open. But once it aired I didn’t really look into it more. I was a senior in high school. My life was more focused about college, scholarships, and getting ready for our high school production of Grease.

It wasn’t till after I started college in the fall of 2009 that I remember the segment about Furries, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember what the fandom was called. So I had to do some really weird Google searches to remember what those fluffy people in suits that pretend to be walking, talking animals called themselves. I began to find results through the web comic scene with works like Better Days, Jack, and Fur-Piled. Which in term lead to me discovering what these weirdoes called themselves and the creative sites dedicated to them. I had found the Furries.

The first Furry site I became really involved with was SoFurry, or Yiffstar as it was called at the time to prove my old school Furry cred; and I devoured everything. Visiting the site every day to look at the art, read the stories, maybe check out a song or two, etc… And most of it was porn. Gay porn to be exact. I would spend hours going through the M/M tag and know God was ringing his bell of shame on me. Oh please, don’t give me that look.

One thing you have to know about me is that at the time I was in the closet. I’ve had fantasies about being with other men, but when you’re growing up in a small suburb in Cleveland, Ohio who went to church to hear how the things in my head were not only wrong, but also a ticket to hell. Yeah, for a young teenager in the early 2000’s who can’t express his sexuality to anyone without fear you look for a release in any way you can. So when you discover something you like (walking, talking animals) with something you really like (sex) and combine them together…OMG what do you know I really like this. What a shocker! My brain can’t even.

Of course part of me didn’t like it. Part of me absolutely hated it. Part of me was disgusted with myself. How dare I think about sex with another man? How dare I look at gay sex between fake anthro animals? How dare I enjoy something that the public already decided for me was wrong and therefore must be punished with my own hate and self-pity? How dare I think about being happy? How dare I choose to be weird? Why can’t I be like everyone else?

There were many nights I went to bed angry with myself. Sometimes I even cried cause I knew I could never be the perfect normal person everyone was hoping for me to be. I tried. As God as my witness I bloody tried. I tried looking at straight porn. It didn’t work. I tried looking at “Lesbian” (for straight people) porn. It didn’t work. Sorry to all the ladies, but I never found the female body sexy.

I tried to keep my mind off it by doing as much work as possible. It didn’t work. I tried praying to God. It didn’t work. I’m sure there is someone out there reading this saying, “You should of tried harder.” Honey, I gave it my hardest. It was to the point I was telling myself “I like gay sex, but I’m into women” excuse. I was so far in the closet I was playing in Narnia. Don’t you dare cum to me saying I didn’t try. I did, I tried to pretend I was something else, and guess why? It didn’t work!

So here I was a confused, frustrated, even miserable college freshmen who discovered a fandom he likes, but was only using it to fill his base desires. To be fair, it was not always about sex. I’m not a complete pervert. Maybe 80%. I did enjoy several non-sexual works, but my search history would tell you otherwise, and I can’t pretend this wasn’t my main interest back in the day. Well one day, I was searching for some “good” stories and SoFurry had this recommendation feature showcasing what most people on the site considered was the best. Through there I would find an author who became my go to writer, Kyell Gold.

It seems clichéd to talk about Gold. For those you not in the know, Kyell Gold is the most popular Furry writer. His book sell like hotcakes, he’s praised all the time, and was awarded so much he actively banned himself from winning any awards just so other writers could have a shot. He’s kind of a big deal. One of the biggest factors that made his work popular was they focused on gay characters usually having sex. So when I discovered all his works on SoFurry I was hooked.

I was in it for the sex, but as I read more of his stories, I discovered I like them more then just the sex. That unlike others I’ve read, his had an actual story and character behind it. It made me realize the difference between porn and erotica. Porn stories are focused only on the sex and how quick they can get to it. Erotica tells a story that features sex to help develop the plot and characters. Most of Gold’s works is erotica. There are expectations and lord knows there are other writers outside of Gold, but at the time, this was my Gold standard. Pun intended. #NOREGRETS

Everyday, I would go through his archive, discover a new story, and love it. Then one day I decided to look at a short story about a high school otter and his relationship with a fox. The story was called ‘Streams’ and that story changed my life.

Art by Cooner

‘Streams’ is the second of three novellas Kyell would combine to form Waterways. The plot is simply. Kory, a teenage otter, is having a hard time at school. He broke up with his girlfriend, is hounded by everyone about what college will he go to, and is being bullied cause he wrote a poem and what kind of guy would even write a poem, bro? He tries to relax at a public pool when he bumps into a fox. His name is Samaki and after the two hang out for the day, Kory begins to realize he may have feelings for the fox. But Samaki is a boy and Kory is a boy. Uh oh.

All of that is actually from the first novella, Aquifer. I didn’t know Streams was a sequel, but when I started to read it I couldn’t stop. Kory and Samaki are in a relationship, and yes they did it. No not ‘it’, but it. However, the only other person who knows is Kory’s little brother and Samaki’s family. Samaki is open about his sexuality, but Kory is scared. He lives with a religious mother and is always looking over his shoulder when he’s with Samaki. There’s more that happens in Streams. The boys volunteer at an LGBT runaway house, Kory starts to confront people about who he is, and he is working super hard on getting into college.

There are 118 pages to Stream, the longest of the novellas, and I read all of it in one night. I don’t remember how late, but I did nothing else the entire night but read that story. The reason was simple. I discovered I was Kory. The thoughts, fears, and love Kory showed in Streams were the exact thoughts, fears, and love I’ve always had in my head, but to that point I only pushed it away. Reading Waterways was a watershed moment. Pun intended again. Sue me.

I read a lot of books. Ever since I was a kid, I read books of all kinds. I must of read over 1000 at this point in my life, but I’m not keeping track. There were books I formed an attachment to like Harry Potter, The Giver, Redwall, whatever Sci Fi/ Fantasy series binge I was on, but none of them have affected me like Waterways.

Art by Chac Xib Chaac

Reading about Kory was like looking at a mirror, but not a regular mirror. This mirror was cracked and broken; encrusted with my blood from all the years I tried to destroy it. Hating what I was seeing. Seeing a man who is gay. How dare I see that I’m gay? I can’t be this. No one likes this. I must hide it. Never admit it. And whenever I saw who I really was in that mirror, my only reaction was to punch it till all I could see were fragments of myself. After I came to the end of Streams, which was like six hours I think, I was looking myself in that mirror again, but instead of punching it, I finally decided to put the pieces back together and really take a look at myself.

I don’t remember sleeping much that night. My brain was processing how a fictional otter’s love for a fox of the same sex was affecting me so much. But again it was simple, Kory’s feelings were my feelings, and his fears matched mine. A fear that’s followed me through out my life. Reading about Kory’s experience made me realize I didn’t want to live with that fear any more. I didn’t want to hide anymore. That night I thought then said the words in my brain, ‘I’m gay,’ and my sexuality journey began.

I prayed that night as well. I’m not a religious man, but I do believe in a higher plain and while I don’t go to church, I do pray to God when I feel I need guidance, comfort, or just put my thoughts out into the open. I’m not sure if there’s a grand design, but the next few days I noticed more stories about LGBT being accepted then before. It felt like a sign, take it for what you will, but whoever up there was looking out for me was telling me ‘yes, you are on the right path,’ and I thank that being with every ounce of my body.

Soon I was going to my local LGBT centers coming out group and let me tell you, everyone says the first step is the hardest one, but no one tells you what a bitch the second one is. Especially when you walk into a coming out group where you expect to see mostly 20 something’s only to find a group of men all about twice your age. Believe me, part of me just wanted to turn around and forget everything. No way was I walking into a lion’s den being the youngest by twenty years. Fresh meat boys.

Art by Chac Xib Chaac

But I stayed and I came back every other week and started to form friendships with the people there. They helped me understand that being gay does not define me. It’s just a part of me who is made up of so much else. It also gave me a bigger perspective cause many of those men were dealing with coming out as well. Some were even married and had kids. They made me realize just how far we go to pretend to make others happy when we must recognize our own happiness. Thank you all for teaching me and to think I was afraid of you cause they were older. Then I came out to my sister.

She was visiting me during college and the night I finally said the words, I was scared. I did not know if my sister would accept me. That I might go down the path Kory went, but I knew I couldn’t be happy with myself, but hide it from others to make them comfortable. My sister was taken back at first. She brought up how I seem to have this crush for a girl in high school, but I never had to guts to move forward with it. I liked her, but it never felt like I loved her. I just started to mechanically think who would be the best match for me cause that what straight people do right? Thank God, I never went forward with that.

I told my sister the basics and then she asked if I told anyone else, I didn’t. Then my sister said something I never thought I hear her say. We’ve gotten along, but before I came out, I always felt we were a little bit separate. She was the out-going one, I was the quiet one. She played sports, I played theater. Etc, etc… I always saw my sister as the strong, brave one. That night she told me she always saw me as brave and strong. I cried. I couldn’t hold back the tears hearing her say that. She accepted me for who I was, we were both crying like little babies, and gave each other the biggest hug knowing our relationship has become closer. Then my roommate walked in on our hug to see what was going on. I told him we were having a brother-sister moment and he let us be.

Soon I was out to my roommate, and everyone at college, the last hurtle for me was the hardest for everyone, parents. It took me years to finally come out to them. It wasn’t till I moved out to LA that I finally said enough is enough. One rule I put on myself was I was never going to get involved with anyone till I was open to my parents cause I didn’t want to put whoever I was in a relationship with to go through the same crap Kory put Samaki through. But I couldn’t say the words. I was still afraid they would hate me if they knew their little boy was gay.

I never said the words, I actually wrote them. I left a letter to break the ice during the night around New Years Eve for them to read in the mourning. It was my way to finally get it out there. Let me tell you, I should have said the words cause I know for a fact I didn’t get any sleep that night. My brain was a battlefield of leave the letter be or take it and hide for their comfort. Over and over my head played all the scenarios of love and hate. Just a waking sleep that never seem to end. The letter stayed and the next mourning they read it. We finally talked about it and they accepted me for who I was.

A lot has changed for me since then. I’m out and involved with the gay community in LA. I’m more confident with myself. I’m more outgoing then I’ve ever been before. I’m even working on making an impact in the fandom that helped me in anyway I can. Kyell’s story had inspired me to write again. I got involved with a Furry Podcast that never got off the ground, but I was recommended by the creator of Culturally F’d to help out with Dogpatch Press with Patch and Fred Patten. First working on formatting Fred’s many book reviews, but now working on my own articles. I’ve gone to my first fur cons last year and hosted panels discussing about furry media. I just got accepted in my first anthology. I…I… I am happy and it is all thanks to a little book I discovered on a furry website that was a gay erotic story between an otter and a fox.

Art by MV527

The Furry fandom helped me. I won’t say save me because I never felt I was in danger of taking my life. But I feel I would not be where I am today if I didn’t read Streams. It would have been at least more boring. Hell, if I told high school me what life would be like for him he would think I’m crazy. This isn’t a review, but to anyone who is unsure about their sexuality, read the book. To those who want to understand the mindset of LGBT people, read the book. For those who are just looking to reading something different, read the book.

The Furry Fandom can sometimes be hard to explain to those outside it. In general it’s about people’s love for walking, talking animals, but beyond that is a lot. It’s a place for people to explore who they are by creating their own Fursona characters. It offers artist to create, whether it be art, stories, games, dance, fursuits, music, etc… It’s about community as you find people who share your interest. And it’s also about sex. Not for everyone (I’m contractually obligated to write that) but anyone who has been apart of the fandom for a while can tell you that the fandom has helped so many people be comfortable with who they are sexual. Hell, Kyell wrote a comic explaining that and what’s wrong with being happy with whom you are?

I actually got to meet Kyell Gold during Rainfurrest 2015 and thanked him personally. I even brought my copy of Waterways for him to sign, but I never got him to. I felt weird asking for his signature without thinking of myself as Spongebob. I even did a video review of the book when I started my web show, don’t watch it, I had no idea what I was doing at the time. And no I didn’t bring it up with Kyell. Again, it felt weird telling a man who has a life of his own to remind him of a little Internet video you made two years ago. Let alone I wasn’t the only one who embraced his sexuality cause of Waterways. My story isn’t that unique. Again, didn’t want to feel like a Spongebob.

The Furry Fandom is weird. We are a bunch of weirdoes with a hobby most people don’t understand both from people outside and inside the fandom. But when you realize you’re a big dork who loves books, movies, video games, anime, comic books, manga, discovered your sexuality through a gay love story between an otter and a fox, and is a Furry. Weird is in my DNA and the Furry Fandom fits me like a glove. Thanks to Waterways I am able to look at myself in the mirror, and no matter what life throws at me, I can look at myself and smile cause I know who I am and I’m proud to be me.

Thank you Furry Fandom for providing a community for weirdoes to explore themselves. I will support you till my dying day. Thank you Kyell Gold for writing a story for those confused and those who don’t know how to swim like an otter. Thank you to my family for accepting me for who I am. Thank you to everyone who have helped me and supported me. Thank you Kory and Samaki. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Thank you for your time and don’t forget to be awesome. Be amazing. Be you.

My Fursona, a DragonElk. Art by Zhivago

-Matthias

Buy the book from Sofawolf Press

Categories: News

How and Why Coyotes Have The Best Tails - Join us in this episode as we talk tails, and often try and convince Levi that his tail might not be the golden-fured standard!

WagzTail - Thu 7 Jul 2016 - 08:00

Join us in this episode as we talk tails, and often try and convince Levi that his tail might not be the golden-fured standard!

Metadata and Credits How and Why Coyotes Have The Best Tails

Runtime: 30:31m

Cast: KZorroFuego, Levi, Wolfin

Editor: Wolfin

How and Why Coyotes Have The Best Tails - Join us in this episode as we talk tails, and often try and convince Levi that his tail might not be the golden-fured standard!

Categories: Podcasts

How and Why Coyotes Have The Best Tails - Join us in this episode as we talk tails, and often try and convince Levi that his tail might not be the golden-fured standard!

WagzTail - Thu 7 Jul 2016 - 08:00

Join us in this episode as we talk tails, and often try and convince Levi that his tail might not be the golden-fured standard!

Metadata and Credits How and Why Coyotes Have The Best Tails

Runtime: 30:31m

Cast: KZorroFuego, Levi, Wolfin

Editor: Wolfin

How and Why Coyotes Have The Best Tails - Join us in this episode as we talk tails, and often try and convince Levi that his tail might not be the golden-fured standard!

Categories: Podcasts

FA 026 Living For Yourself - Does the Pope like gay people? Should you tell people to fuck off? Does sex make the relationship? All this and more on this episode of Feral Attraction

Feral Attraction - Wed 6 Jul 2016 - 18:00

Hello Everyone!

We open tonight's episode with a discussion about the Pope. Why does everyone seem to like this Pope, and what exactly did he mean when he told reporters that Christians should apologize? We rely on Viro, our resident recovering Catholic, to break the secret code and tell us why we should care, or if this is just false hope from the Pope!

Our main topic is on how to Live For Yourself. Really, though, this episode is about the power of telling other people to fuck off. As you can imagine, this episode contains adult language, so enjoy.

We discuss various strategies you can employ to ensure that people stop having control over your life and, really, why should you care what that stranger on the bus thinks about you? We talk science, philosophy, and butts on this exciting, casual episode of self-empowerment and profanity!

Our listener question for the week is about whether you can be polyamorous but only want to have sexual contact with your primary. We talk a bit about non sexual significant others and what that can mean for you!

For more information, including a list of topics, see our Show Notes for this episode.

Thanks and, as always, be well!

FA 026 Living For Yourself - Does the Pope like gay people? Should you tell people to fuck off? Does sex make the relationship? All this and more on this episode of Feral Attraction

Categories: Podcasts

Persimmon Takes On Humanity, by Christopher Locke – book review by Fred Patten.

Dogpatch Press - Wed 6 Jul 2016 - 10:22

Submitted by Fred Patten, Furry’s favorite historian and reviewer.

Persimmon Takes On Humanity, by Christopher Locke
Los Angeles, CA, Fathoming Press, February 2015, trade paperback $14.95 (477 pages), Kindle $1.99.

Persimmon Takes On Humanity is blatantly a didactic novel. But it’s a powerful one. In its first few pages Persimmon, a happy-go-lucky raccoon; Scraps, Persimmon’s younger brother; her reluctant best friend Derpoke the opossum; and Rawly, an arrogant rival raccoon dare each other to venture from the safety of Oak Tree Forest to cross the river to the human land, from which no raccoon has ever returned.

“‘Having fun?’ Rawly, an imposing raccoon, stands over them on his hind legs asserting his dominance. He glares at the playful pals. Derpoke goes limp with fear.

Persimmon lets go of Derpoke and leisurely rolls onto her side to face Rawly. ‘Well, well, well, if it isn’t Grumpykins.’

‘Grumpy?!’ Rawly replies, incensed. ‘How about rightfully annoyed that you’re in my territory – again? You think you can just gallivant around all over my trees?’

‘The forest is big enough for all of use to share,’ Persimmon responds defiantly. ‘I’m not intimidated by the silly rules you males force on everyone around you by rubbing your butts on everything.’

[…]

‘The most ridiculous thing about you jumping between those trees is that you were doing it to show off to your puny brother and this cowardly opossum.’

Persimmon pops up, indignant. ‘They both have more heart than all of the other raccoons combined. Besides, I did it to prove to myself that it could be done – and maybe to taste the thrill of it.’

‘Huh. Well, if you warriors are so brave, then why don’t you venture past Oak Tree Forest on the other side of the river?’ Rawly provokes.

‘You’re absurd,’ Persimmon jeers. ‘As if you’re courageous enough to venture there. No raccoon has ever gone past that point and lived to tell the tale.’” (pgs. 4-5)

So they all cross to the other side of the river, to see if there is any truth to the rumors of human pollution and death. They find a human world where wildlife like raccoons and opossums are considered to be vermin, to be killed as soon as they are seen. They find a meat farm where humans raise calves – baby bulls — in cramped, filthy cages to be slaughtered while they are still babies to create tasty veal. Persimmon is horrified. She persuades the others to join her in helping the calves to escape from their cages and run back across the river into the forest and freedom.

The big escape is a naïve and almost fatal failure within the first thirty pages. Persimmon and her friends realize that even if they had gotten the calves into the forest, the humans would have immediately come after them. They need to enlist more forest animals to help them, and they need a more practical final goal for the released calves. And that’s just one meat farm.

Persimmon’s ad hoc adventure evolves into a grim, long-term, often depressing, better-planned war between the forest animals and the humans. She learns that it’s too easy to predict 100% victory with no casualties — in warfare there will always be casualties on your side.

Persimmon Takes On Humanity is a curious novel. It’s rare in being written in the present tense rather than the usual past tense:

“Derpoke, Scraps and Bruiser stand at attention facing Persimmon, who is perched on top of a boulder. The squirrel couple, Chloe and Tucker, are in attendance as well, but they’re listening from a tree – Persimmon has vouched for Bruiser, but they’ve had one too many close calls with dogs in the past to make them feel totally safe.” (p. 78)

It’s a curious mixture of fantasy and realism. At the beginning, all animals are noble and all humans are evil. (They do hear about friendly humans later on, if Animal Rights activists can be defined as friendly humans.) The humans casually kill their pet dogs as easily as the wildlife, which even Persimmon knows is extreme:

“Persimmon steps onto the dirt and inches her way toward the dog. Even sitting down, he is imposing. It would take three raccoons stacked on top of each other to reach his height. As she nears him, though, she whiffs in a horrendous stench. That’s when she notices the pile of droppings next to him. Ugh, he’s sitting in his own feces and urine. She has a heartbreaking flashback to the calves. What has happened here? Would a human do this to a dog? … But they love dogs.” (p. 65)

Persimmon realizes it’s hypocritical to blame the humans for killing animals while many of the animals themselves are carnivores and omnivores who prey upon each other. But her attempt to persuade them to all become vegans seems seems quixotic, while the animals’ arguing over adopting a catchy name for themselves just seems frivolous:

“Scraps cuts in, but this time it’s not about fish. ‘Wait, we have to come up with a name for our team.’

‘Oh, right.’ Persimmon scans the group. ‘Does anyone have any suggestions?’

Scraps immediately blurts out, ‘Savvy Saviors!’

‘I’m proud of you for using the word savvy, Scraps,’ Persimmon commends him. ‘But let’s keep brainstorming.’

Scraps shouts again, ‘Rascal Raiders! Hairy Heroes!’

Derpoke jumps in. ‘What is it with you and alliteration? Do you really think anyone is going to take us seriously with names like that? ‘Hi, we’re here to save your life? We’re called the Hairy Heroes.’’

Scraps pouts and challenges the opossum. ‘Okay, know-it-all, do you have anything better?’

‘Well …’ Derpoke hesitates for fear of being shot down. ‘I did come up with one possibility. What about Critter Manumitters?’

The other team members stare at him quizzically.

Scraps bursts into laughter over this silly-sounding word. ‘Oh, that’s much better, Mr. Vocabulary.’” (p. 81)

This review seems to be emphasizing the rare humorous scenes in the novel. They are outnumbered by all the scenes of drama, disgust, despair, and death. Yet Persimmon never gives up her fight, personally and as the leader of a movement, to save all animals – including humans, since humans are just another mammal – from squalor and death. She also learns to be practical, as when she addresses two fierce guard dogs at a fur farm:

“She looks directly at the Rottweilers with a stern expression. ‘Listen to me very carefully. I want to help you, but there are two of you and thousands of minks, and they’re suffering immensely. I’ve heard horrible things about what they’re forced to endure. Right now some of them have open wounds. Some don’t have any water. And some are going slowly insane because they’re trapped in stifling, barren cages. It’s unbelievably cruel, and we’re here to put a stop to it. You’re either with us or against us.’” (p. 146)

Persimmon Takes On Humanity (cover by L. A. Watson) is not a fun novel, but it is a taut adventure. Not everyone will agree with author Christopher Locke’s premise, but he knows how to tell a gripping story. It is realistic enough in its apparently-hopeless drama about a handful of forest animals taking on all humanity through meat farm, fur farm, and especially urban circus settings, to keep you wondering how/whether they can succeed – or survive. There is mounting drama, with major surprises, until almost the last page.

And this is only Book One of The Enlightenment Adventures. Those who read it through to the end will not be able to resist going on to Book Two.

– Fred Patten

Categories: News

ep. 123 - Baby's First Dildo - don't forget we're on Patreon for all sorts of co…

The Dragget Show - Wed 6 Jul 2016 - 08:55

don't forget we're on Patreon for all sorts of cool rewards! https://www.patreon.com/thedraggetshow Hey guys! I know we just did a show at AC, but we wanted to get a regular post con regular one out as well. We talk about the first furries, baby's first dildo, do an Anthrocon review, shoutout to fans we met and more! We also do listener questions with priority given to our Question Master patrons! Stay tuned for more episodes and videos on our Youtube channel! - www.youtube.com/user/DraggetShow/videos ep. 123 - Baby's First Dildo - don't forget we're on Patreon for all sorts of co…

Categories: Podcasts

Bunnies, Bongs, and B**bies

In-Fur-Nation - Wed 6 Jul 2016 - 01:38

Also from Action Lab we have a new full-color comic trade paperback that is decidedly not for young readers! It’s called Itty Bitty Bunnies: Friendgasm. “The Itty Bitty Bunnies (Phil and Tyrone) make a deal with the Devil, awake the magic Bong Genie, start a food fight that turns homicidal, and do lots and LOTS of drugs. It’s just another day in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land!” And it comes to us from the rather twisted mind of Australian cartoonist and writer Dean Rankine. It’s on the shelves now and available from Previews magalog.

image c. 2016 Action Lab

Categories: News

Book of the Month: Gods With Fur

Furry Writers' Guild - Tue 5 Jul 2016 - 11:00

July 2016’s Book of the Month is Gods With Fur, a new anthology edited by Fred Patten and published by FurPlanet.

Art by Teagan Gavet

From the very beginning, mankind has found the divine in the shape of animals from across the world. Deities such as Ganesha, Coyote, Anubis, and The Monkey King—even Zeus took to the wing from time to time. In ancient Egyptian deserts, misty Central American rainforests, and across wind swept tundra, man has forever told stories of gods with fur, feathers, scales, or tusks.

Gods With Fur features twenty-three new stories of divine animals working their will upon the land. You may recognize gods such as Bastet, while other stories see authors working in their familiar worlds, such as M. R. Anglin’s Silver Foxes books or Kyell Gold’s Forester University books. Others are set in new worlds where the anthropomorphic gods have tales to tell us. We are proud to present this new furry view of divinity.

The majority of contributions in Gods With Fur are from FWG members. The full table of contents:

“400 Rabbits,” Alice “Huskyteer” Dryden
“Contract Negotiations,” Field T. Mouse
“On the Run from Isofell,” M. R. Anglin
“To the Reader…,” Alan Loewen
“First Chosen,” BanWynn Oakshadow
“All Of You Are In Me,” Kyell Gold
“Yesterday’s Trickster,” NightEyes DaySpring
“The Gods of Necessity,” Jefferson Swycaffer
“The Precession of the Equinoxes,” Michael H. Payne
“Deity Theory,” James L. Steele
“Questor’s Gambit,” Mary E. Lowd
“Fenrir’s Saga,” Televassi
“The Three Days of the Jackal,” Samuel C. Conway
“A Melody in Seduction’s Arsenal,” Slip-Wolf
“Adversary’s Fall,” MikasiWolf
“As Below, So Above,” Mut
“Wings of Faith,” Kris Schnee
“The Going Forth of Uadjet,” Frances Pauli
“That Exclusive Zodiac Club,” Fred Patten
“Three Minutes To Midnight,” Killick
“A Day With No Tide,” Watts Martin
“Repast (A Story of Aligare),” Heidi C. Vlach
“Origins,” Michael D. Winkle

Categories: News

Frolic ‘the original furry nightclub’ to lose historic venue – community responds.

Dogpatch Press - Tue 5 Jul 2016 - 10:52

48 Hills: 50-year-old gay bar The Stud faces closure as rent triples
SFist.com: Saving The Stud
HUGE 4 part interview about Frolic with it’s founder, Neonbunny.

Pic by Loco

The future is as dim as the lighting at The Stud, one of San Francisco’s most loved dive/gay bars. The property is being swept up in a wave of real estate speculation and gentrification that shows no sign of ebbing. Some luminaries of local culture are just treading water, while many are sinking under. They just can’t afford to live in their own city any more.

One by one, the lights of San Francisco night life are going out. Now the Stud is set to close.

On every second Saturday each month, furries flock there for Frolic dance party. It’s the premiere event for their thriving local scene. The venue loves furries as much as they love each other, so Frolic has been steadily supported since 2010. Their success bore a litter of furry club events across North America that look up to it for inspiration, from Foxtrot in Denver, to Suit-Up Saturday in Minneapolis.

Calling it “the Original” furry dance party may be debatable (credit may be due for a few rave-type events outside of North America) – but there’s no debating its influence. It will be very sad if Frolic loses it’s home.

It’s a local story, but in spirit, it touches furries anywhere who love to dance and have their own paw-hold in the nightlife. Having their own established club doesn’t happen easily for an isolated niche of maligned yet super loveable young people. Frolic set the bar high for that. It isn’t your average family-friendly daytime convention – its power comes after dark. Talking animal-people look and feel better to dance with in the magical murk of a club from an alternate fantasy dimension. Have a drink and hug one for an experience better than drugs. Or pick one up. Say: “knock knock” – “who’s there”? – “knot me…”

Frolic is only one among many other events at The Stud, from drag and burlesque to gay goth/industrial nights. Each carry on San Francisco’s fabled bohemian past, that’s now often lost and neglected under a chromed tech future. Lady Gaga, Bjork and Matthew Barney are on a long list of past performers and patrons of note. The Stud is one of the oldest gay bars in San Francisco, standing proud among a handful left from the old days when a whole swathe of the city was wilder than today. It’s more than a bar, it’s a place to find yourself.

Shiny new condo development has been looming in a former vacant lot right outside the building. For a while, there’s been whispering about it bringing in a potential horde of residents ready to make noise complaints that would quickly get the place shut down. Just recently, I talked to bartenders Brian and Bernadette, and they said they had a long term lease and were safe. This news was a shock.

All isn’t lost yet. There’s talk of a community co-op coming together to buy the building. Maybe they could set up an Indiegogo fund, and charge a monthly membership due. Would that be enough? Maybe it still wouldn’t save the building from condo complaints. However, in the 1980’s The Stud actually had moved locations and stayed strong, so the past shows power to carry on. There’s also a “historic business” card to play with SF’s politicians. If none of that succeeds, maybe Frolic could move to DNA Lounge or the Eagle (nearby venue that has a pup play night.) Some places in Oakland could be good to try.

Other communities come together to save boring old houses because some dead president slept there. I love that this gathers a living, thriving community around an old gay bar. While waiting to find out if it can be saved, there’s a pervasive sense of unfairness and loss among furries and friends. We’ll just have to wait and see.

UPDATE:

SF Examiner (June 26, previous to this news:) A golden legacy among gay bars

McElhaney considers The Stud to be one of The City’s “Last bastions of freakdom… We’re a rare breed that’s disappearing.” One anniversary party guest was a sabertooth cat who stole the dancefloor. The owner knows him. “He’s a lovely freak,” McElhaney said.

The furry party Frolic, every second Saturday, is the only regularly-occurring furry party in San Francisco.

“I think people walk in and they’re just like, ‘Oh, I’m home, I’m here.’ They hear about an event we have going and they go, ‘Wow, this is totally different than any other gay bar I’ve been in,’” McElhaney said.

Welcome, SFist readers! Furry Community Responds To Possible Closing Of The Stud, Their Monthly Gathering Place

Have an experience or opinion to share about this? Please comment!

Pics by Loco

Categories: News

Episode -32 - When Godzilla wasn't enough

Unfurled - Tue 5 Jul 2016 - 10:42

The cast loses it's ferret in this episode. The shark replaces him as the group talks about brexit...a lot. Episode -32 - When Godzilla wasn't enough

Categories: Podcasts

Episode -33 - Unfurled: No hope left

Unfurled - Tue 5 Jul 2016 - 10:40

The cast returns with all four members tonight! Come an join them as they discuss the happenings of the week Episode -33 - Unfurled: No hope left

Categories: Podcasts

ep 122 - Anthrocon '16 LIVE! w/ 2 Gryphon, Frederick Fox & Interprefurs - don't forget the Patreon! -- https://www.patreon…

The Dragget Show - Tue 5 Jul 2016 - 00:42

don't forget the Patreon! -- https://www.patreon.com/thedraggetshow Our live show from this year's Anthrocon! We are joined by 2 Gryphon (furry comic extraordinaire), Frederick Fox (creator of the YouTube animated hit A Fox In Space), & the Interprefurs (Anthrocon's main stage ASL interpreters)! Also, here is a video of the whole show if you prefer to watch it! -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AO7tAYmCtE 2 Gryphon's Patreon -- https://www.patreon.com/RantingGryphon Frederick Fox's Patreon -- https://www.patreon.com/AFoxInSpace Stay tuned for more episodes and videos on our Youtube channel! - https://www.youtube.com/user/DraggetShow/videos ep 122 - Anthrocon '16 LIVE! w/ 2 Gryphon, Frederick Fox & Interprefurs - don't forget the Patreon! -- https://www.patreon…

Categories: Podcasts

TigerTails Radio Season 9 Episode 51

TigerTails Radio - Mon 4 Jul 2016 - 17:31

Categories: Podcasts

He Feels His BF Is Influencing Him to Like Furporn

Ask Papabear - Mon 4 Jul 2016 - 13:41

Hello.

My name is Rueben and I would like to ask you an important question. My boyfriend of two years, XXX, is worried about me. He introduced me to the furry lifestyle three years ago and has encouraged me into all sorts of furry stuff, being into a furry thing.

Another point is that I have recently signed up to 4chan.com and have seen many graphic images and videos online, most of which involving men in giraffe costumes. I don't even know how it happened, I was just searching up baddragon.com and then landing on really sexual images, my question is, is it weird if the manipulation of being a furry has an impact on my physicality and my thoughts towards more specifically my sexual fantasies and thoughts about it at night.

The real issue is that Liam is 16, then, and since there is a five year gap all my friends now call me Peter File but I don't care; the heart wants what the heart wants. ...

Ty for anything you can say should I move on or continue on this path as five years isn't really an issue once we're older. Thank You.

Rueben Pingle (Toronto, age 21)

* * *

Hi, Rueben,

This is a couple of questions, of course. Let’s tackle the age thing, first. Not that long ago, marrying a 16-year-old (and even younger) was commonplace. Today, we are more squeamish about such things. In America, most states have a legal age of consent set at 18, but I notice that in Canada the age of sexual consent is 16 (and before 2008 it was 14!), when it involves consensual sex and not pornography or sexual slavery. Anyway, when it comes to the legal side of it, you’re fine in Canada. Socially, as you note, you might set yourself up for a little mocking. Sounds like you are taking it in stride. My only advice for you there is to take it very slowly, especially with big decisions such as sex or possible engagement. That said, Papabear finds nothing wrong, morally, with what you are doing and I wish you well. Indeed, as the two of you age, this will become less and less of an issue.

As for furporn and the whole giraffe thing, I will have to shake a finger at you and say, “Do not blame furry art for what turns you on sexually” (c'mon, you don't just accidentally find giraffe porn; even in Furryland, you have to do a little searching on something that specific). Too many people (especially mundanes) raise the accusation that furporn perverts people. Actually, people’s sexuality is already set up inside them, so they are primed to like, or not like, what they find on the Internet. If you didn’t have something within you already that would find naked anthro giraffes sexy, then you wouldn’t be turned on upon seeing them on a website. So, don’t blame the porn.

Furthermore, don’t blame your boyfriend for influencing you here. You are 21 and perfectly capable of showing him the palm of your hand and saying, “Hey, I’m fine if you’re into that, but it’s not for me.” This does not mean that the two of you cannot have a healthy, loving relationship. I loved my mate to pieces, and he loved me, but he was not a furry. Be a furry or don’t be a furry; that is your decision, not anyone else’s. And, if you like anthro-giraffe porn and have fantasies about it, share them with your mate and have fun with it.
I hope that answers your question.

Wishing You Love and Happiness,

Papabear